Vicente Rodríguez Guillén, more commonly known simply as
Vicente, (born July 16, 1981 in Valencia) is a Spanish football
(soccer) midfielder who currently plays for Valencia CF.
He started his professional career at rival club Levante UD and
made his debut for the club in the 1997/1998 season. After two
seasons at the club, he signed on for Valencia CF in the summer
of 2000 where his performances were lauded but he faced tight
competition operating on his favourite left winger position,
then occupied by Kily Gonzalez. Despite the serious contention
for a first-team place, he managed to net 5 goals in the Primera
Liga and made 13 appearances in the UEFA Champions League
although he was left on the bench for the final against Bayern
Munich.
The arrival of Rafael Benítez as coach in the 2001/2002 season
would mark Vicente's opportunity to prove himself and he did not
disappoint as his progress led to the club's first league title
in over 30 years. The emergence of this quick-paced left
midfielder signalled the end of Kily Gonzalez's career at
Valencia.
The 2003/2004 season would perhaps be one of Vicente's finest
seasons with the club as his energetic efforts propelled Los
Ches to their second league title under Benítez and also
European success with victory of the UEFA Cup. His runs down the
left wing was vital to provide crosses for striker Mista to
finish the goalscoring job just as right winger Rufete was doing
at the opposite wing. In the 2004/2005 season, however, under
the management of Claudio Ranieri, his forays into the left wing
position appeared stagnated as Ranieri opted to favour fellow
Italian left wingback Emiliano Moretti to provide support for
him rather than to let him have a free role along the left.
Further, injuries blighted his season and he spent much of the
beginning of the season recuperating. His return to the club's
starting eleven appeared to be too little too late as Ranieri
was by then sacked and the club was struggling to find its once
formidable form. Recently, he was also linked to Manchester
United although his high transfer fees are likely to divert the
English club's attentions elsewhere.
Meanwhile for his national team, Vicente has starred for the
Spanish national team a total of 27 caps. He marked his debut
for the national side in a FIFA World Cup qualifying game
against Austria in September 2001 although he was overlooked for
the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.
Nevertheless, Vicente appeared in his first major tournament in
the Euro 2004 competition in Portugal although Spain's insipid
performances meant that he had to be content with only playing
in the group matches as he could not even assist his team to
their expected quarter-final berth.
